Milton Bradley back in Chicago Cubs' lineup

PHOENIX — The day before the season began in Houston, coming off a red hot spring, Milton Bradley said he was ready to show Cubs fans what he was all about.

"Hopefully they can realize the kind of player I am, and realize I'm worth every penny that I'm making," he said.

Nearly one month later, Bradley now is hoping first impressions aren't lasting.

The $30 million outfielder returned again from his lingering groin injury Tuesday night at Chase Field, trying to prove his first month as a Cub was just a mirage.

In his first game back, Bradley struck out, singled and grounded out in his first three at-bats against the Diamondbacks.

How frustrating has it been for Bradley?

"I can't really answer that," he said. "It's such a commonly asked question. ... I'm definitely anxious. Just play and just keep it under control."

Keeping things under control has been a problem for Bradley over the years, which is why it was a risk for the Cubs to hand him a three-year deal.

But Bradley always has been able to hit, so his .042 average entering Tuesday's game was something he wasn't used to dealing with.

"Not only do we need him in the lineup, we need him productively in the lineup," manager Lou Piniella said. "He was our big acquisition over the winter. He had such a good spring, so we're hoping he gets hot with the bat and we can keep him out there on a consistent basis for a long period of time."

Bradley hit .460 in spring training, showing the batting eye Texas manager Ron Washington said was the best in baseball. But a 1-for-24 start, combined with the slow start by the Cubs' offense, put Bradley under a microscope he somehow never anticipated.

Hovering over Bradley is the two-game suspension he received for making contact with umpire Larry Vanover on April 15 after being called out on strikes with the bases loaded in his first at-bat at Wrigley Field.

Piniella said he didn't even remember that Bradley had received the suspension.

"Too many things have transpired in the interim," he said with a laugh. "I completely forgot about that."

With the Cubs' luck, Bradley will have to serve the suspension as soon as he gets hot. Bradley said he has not heard from Major League Baseball about his impending hearing on the matter.

"You probably know more than I do," he said. "I haven't heard from MLB. Never have, in any situation, ever in my career."

But didn't Bradley say in spring training he had MLB disciplinarian Bob Watson on speed-dial?

"That's Bob Watson," he replied. "That's not MLB."

But Watson is the one who will decide whether Bradley serves the two-game suspension, or knocks it down to one game or none.

"I don't have his number anymore," Bradley said. "I changed numbers. I lost his."

Bradley then smiled, perhaps signaling a thaw in his cold, cold spring.